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April 23, 2012 — Many instructors will spend the first year of their teaching
careers becoming accustomed to their new environment and slowly begin to
incorporate change.

That's not the way Collegiate Chorale Director Nicole
Lamartine began her career at the University of Wyoming. She immediately
embraced the previous traditions associated with her position and
simultaneously began to mold UW's choral program to where she envisioned that
it could be.

Lamartine, a UW music assistant professor since 2008,
brought in new composers and gave her students the opportunity to experience a
new facet of music creation by premiering a new composition. She created a
yearly vocal jazz festival, not only reaching out to high schools around the
region and giving them new opportunities, but also utilizing UW's Jazz Choir to
run the event. This gave undergraduate students much needed experience, which
prepared them for their own teaching careers.

She also encouraged the existing choirs to seek new venues
and experiences by providing the UW Singing Statesmen with the prestigious
opportunity of performing in Carnegie Hall.

Lamartine's influence on UW students has earned her the
Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award, established in 1977 by
businessman John P. "Jack" Ellbogen, to "foster, encourage, and
reward excellence in classroom teaching at UW." Winners are selected from
a list nominated by students, and the awards are based entirely on classroom
performance and helpfulness to students.

Other recipients this year are Thomas Thurow, professor in
the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management; and Cameron Wright,
associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"One of the greatest lessons that Dr. Lamartine passed on to
me and other students was teaching them how to teach," says former student
Nathaniel Gillette. "She gave us the opportunity to grow steadily and
incorporate what we learned in our other music courses."

Another former student, Phillip Newland, says Lamartine's
willingness to work with Wyoming music educators has inspired him in his own
career.

"I sincerely believe that Dr. Lamartine has taken the choral
area to a new level of excellence. Her dedication to quality choral music is
inspiring; her rapport with students is exceptional; her level of professionalism
is beyond reproach; and her love or music and teaching is infectious," he says.
"I aspire to be an educator of such depth and value. Under her direction, I
have grown both as a musician and a teacher."

Even current students, such as Kathleen Brown, sing
Lamartine's praises.

"Dr. Lamartine is one of the most dedicated, passionate
teachers I have ever met. She is always willing to talk to students, as well as
share any knowledge and experience that would best help the student," Brown
says. "She cares about her students, and truly wants them to succeed. She is a
positive role model in every sense of the word, especially when considering her
vast knowledge base, interaction with students, and her ability to create a
community. She is a true inspiration."

Lamartine received her B.M. degree (1997) in vocal
performance from New Mexico State University; and an M.M. (2000) in vocal
performance and a Ph.D. (2003) in musical arts in choral conducting, both from
the University of Arizona.